Container top



March 2, 1943. H. FULENWIDER ETAL 2,312,637

` CONTAINER 'roP Fil'edpec. s, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 I March 2, 1943. H. FULENWIDER Erm. 2,312,637

CONTAINER TQP Filed Dec. s, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 2, 1943 CONTAINER TOP Harry Fulenwider, Ponte Vedra Beach, and

Kenneth C. Weatherby, Jacksonville, Fla., assignors to National Pressed Steel Barrel Company, Jacksonville, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application December 3, 1940, Serial' No. 368,400

1 Claim.

This invention relates to container tops, for example, metal barrel heads, adapted to be collapsed from original dome shape to a condition of general flatness.

In the packaging of products which shrink, as upon cooling, after introduction into a container, it has been heretofore known to provide a container top of domed form having a volume substantially that of the shrinkage volume of the product which is being packaged. In the packaging of rosin, for example, the container and domed head are filled up to the top of the latter with the molten material, and upon cooling the shrinkage is such that the rosin has receded from the head to the top level of the container body. The head is now collapsed by compressive force, applied in any desired manner, to a condition of general flatness wherein it is substantially level with the top of the container body. Heretofore it has been the practice to provide the top or head with a plurality of concentric beads or corrugations which collapse more or less transversely to permit the flattening operation. Of course, these corrugations during such operation have to diminish in mean circumference and there is a consequent powerful resistance to deformation.

We have found that the attening operation is facilitated if instead of concentric beads the top or head is provided with a spiral bead providing a plurality of convolutions between the outer edge of the top or head and its center, and it is with this feature of improvement that the present invention is concerned. When a. top or head provided with a spiral bead is flattened, the

required pressure is less for the reason that the 5`- head twists or flows somewhat in the direction of the spiral, this being in contrast to the former practice wherein the mean circumference of the concentric beads had to be diminished by direct contraction alone.

The invention is shown in iluustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawings to which reference will now be made.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a metal barrel head conformed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the head of Figure l and of a barrel to which the head is applied.

Figure 4 shows in perspective a closure or lid for the usual central opening of the head.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a somewhat modified form of head in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is an elevation of the head of Figure 5 as applied to a barrel.

Referring rst to Figures 1 to 4, the new head is designated generally by the reference numeral I0. The head is circular in plan and is provided at its outer edge with a channel II, Figure 2, in which is adapted to be received and secured the upper edge of the metal barrel body I2. The head is domed to a central opening I3 having a flat margin I4, the opening being closable by a suitable closure such as the friction lid I5, shown in Figure 4. Between the opening I3 and the channel I I a spiral bead I6 is formed in the head, three convolutions being shown in Figure 2, these being of arcuate radial section and outwardly convexed. The convolutions of the bead are separated by a spiral land of which portions I1 and IB appear in Figure 2. As shown, these lands are rectilinear in radial section and the land I8 is of a smaller angle to the horizontal than the land I1, that is, the convolutions of the land are successively flatter in radial section from the outer edge to the center of the head.

When collapsing pressure is applied to the head, the inner wall or ange portion of channel I I engages the inner edge of the barrel end and the bead convolutions are transversely collapsed and the land comes into substantially horizontal position, there being a torsion or flow effect in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, as the head attens, this effect enabling the collapsing operation t0 be accomplished with less force than in previous practice. This is of considerable importance, particularly where special means for applying heavy pressure is not at hand.

In the head shown in Figures 5 t0` '7 the bead I9 has a greater number of convolutions than in the first embodiment and these are of V rather than arcuate section. As shown in Figure 6, the convolutions of the land 20 are at about the same angle to the horizontal, although, of course,

they may be diierently inclined as in the embodiment rst described.

It will be understood that variations may be made in the particular form of the top or head, and in the particular form and arrangement of bead and land, and, consequently, we do not conne outselves to the specific disclosure herein except asin the following claim.

We Claim:

A metal container `top having at its outer edge a flange portion engageable with an end of a barrel and having an opening centrally positioned with respect to the flange portion, said top being domed inwardly of said ange portion toward said opening and the dome having spirally arranged bead formations therein about its center and extending substantially throughout the dome, said bead formations being outwardly convex in radial section and the portions of the top between the bead formations being substantially rectilinear in radial section, said formations rendering the dome collapsible to a condition of general fiatness.

HARRY FULENWIDER. KENNETH C. WEATHERBY. 

